Shiatsu is a form of bodywork that is based in traditional Chinese medicine and the Chinese massage style called anma. However, shiatsu is actually a Japanese style. In recent years it has been adapted and modified by various practitioners to accommodate their own styles and beliefs. Some of these adaptations include macrobiotic shiatsu, barefoot shiatsu, Ohashiatsu and Zen shiatsu.
The word "shiatsu" means "finger pressure". This translation describes its main technique, which involves putting pressure on specific spots on an energy channel (called a meridian in Chinese medicine) to help improve the flow of energy through that channel. But this is a very simplified explanation; the actual techniques used can include patting, shaking, pinching, rolling, vibrating, plucking and in some instances just holding an area for a time. And a shiatsu treatment can also include assisted stretching.
Shiatsu as a form of Asian medicine is a holistic treatment, designed to balance all the body's systems. But in the West we tend to think more of "illness" than "wellness". Some of the problems that shiatsu can be used to treat are headaches, back pain, insomnia, constipation and many stress-related complaints. It is used with caution when the client has a more serious illness like heart disease, cancer, or osteoporosis, although it has proven to be helpful in some of these situations. It can be used to treat children, seniors and pregnant women as well (although there are areas that are avoided when working with someone who is pregnant).
To receive a shiatsu treatment you lie on a futon or a mat on the floor. You will not get undressed for the treatment, but please wear loose and comfortable clothing; it will help some of the techniques - for example, stretching - go more smoothly. The points that are pressed are the same ones used in acupuncture, except that shiatsu does not use needles. The points are pressed in sequence going in one direction. As with all bodywork, the room should be quiet (except maybe for some soft music) and fairly dark; this keeps stimulation down, which makes for a more relaxing session.
After the session some people feel invigorated, but most - probably because they started out stressed and "hyper" - are very relaxed and sometimes even sleepy. After the first treatment it's possible to develop symptoms of a cold (sneezing and stuffiness); this simply means that the treatment has cleared toxins and other waste materials out of the tissues and the body is healing itself in reaction to this clearing. Another "clearing" may be in the area of emotions; some people find themselves more emotional right after a shiatsu treatment. These effects are more common with the first treatment than the others; they are all temporary and usually last no more than a day or two.
It is possible to feel no effect from a shiatsu treatment. People who are very "out of touch" with their bodies will probably benefit from a treatment, but they may not notice the benefits. And in people who are very obese the layers of fat may prevent the energy flow from being stimulated as well as it should be. How much benefit you get from a treatment will depend on how sensitive you are - or aren't. Sometimes the effects can be very subtle. You may realize later that the nagging soreness you had in your arm is now gone, or perhaps you are not noticing little things that normally upset you.
A list of the benefits of shiatsu would include a lot of the same ones you will find in other forms of bodywork - for example, deep relaxation, stress relief, more muscular flexibility and increased energy and stamina. But because shiatsu is holistic, it balances all the body's systems - muscular, nervous, skeletal, circulatory, digestive, endocrine and others - which means its effects can be more comprehensive and can last longer.
If you've thought about trying Asian medicine, but the idea of being stuck with many little needles makes you anxious, you might want to consider shiatsu. It has many of the same benefits.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Massage | |
